by Spark Notes
First published 2007
This study guide tackles Saul Bellow's novel about Tommy Wilhelm, a failed salesman facing his worst day in New York City. The Harvard-created SparkNotes team walks students through each chapter of Wilhelm's crisis. Wilhelm has lost his job, his marriage crumbles, and his father refuses to help him. He puts his last money into commodity speculation with the mysterious Dr. Tamkin. The guide explains the novel's major themes and tracks its key symbols throughout the story. Students get analysis of Wilhelm's relationships with his cold father Dr. Adler and the questionable Tamkin. The guide includes review questions and essay prompts for assignments. Written specifically for modern students who need clear explanations fast, this resource helps with late night study sessions and paper writing. The analysis covers Bellow's exploration of American failure and Wilhelm's search for meaning in a hostile world.
Genres: literary-fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, academic
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: unreliable-narrator
Setting: New York City
Period: 20th-century
80 pages · Downloadable Spark Note · Barnes & Noble